Gavin Dist. 37 board seeking candidates for 2-year seat
The shuffling of officials on the Gavin Elementary District 37 school board is almost finished after one board member resigned, and two newcomers and two incumbents were sworn in.
Incumbents David Zipp and Joseph Loffredo and newcomers Jennifer Meyer and Dawn Cacioppo joined the board during a special meeting May 7.
Loffredo and Meyer won two of three open seats during the April 7 election. Zipp lost to incumbent James Miller for the third seat on the ballot but rejoined the board when he was appointed to a vacant seat.
Miller was elected even though he announced before April 7 that he could not serve on the school board and has officially resigned. Cacioppo was appointed to his seat.
That leaves just one open two-year board seat still to be appointed, Board President Sherry Florian said.
"It's been unusual, but we had two members elected, two still serving their term, and two who we appointed," Florian said. "We are confident we will have someone take that open seat, and we look forward to a great year."
The shuffling started when three, 4-year, and two, 2-year board seats were on the April 7 ballot.
Miller, Zipp, Meyer and Loffredo filed the required paperwork to run for the 4-year terms, officials said. No one filed for the 2-year seats.
Before the election took place, Miller was appointed to the Lakes Region Sanitary District Board. Miller was told by the Lake County State's Attorneys Office he could not sit on both boards because Gavin has an existing contract with Lakes for sanitary sewer service.
Miller tried to resign from the District 37 board and drop out of the election. However, Gavin officials did not accept his resignation because they wanted to research the topic.
After Miller, Meyer and Loffredo received the most votes during the election, the state's attorney's office reiterated its decision that Miller could not hold both positions.
"Jim (Miller) decided that he was going to resign from the board and take the position on the Lakes Region Sanitary Board," Florian said. "He will still be an adviser for us on many issues at Gavin. However, he will not be an active, voting member of the school board."
Anyone interested in applying for the open seat should send a letter stating their desire to serve, history and civic involvement to the Gavin School District 37, 25775 W. Highway 134, Ingleside. The deadline is June 5.
A candidate must be a citizen of the United States, be at least 18 years of age, a registered voter, a resident of Illinois and live in the Gavin school district.